Pan Am health experts arrive

[NewsWhore]

A commission of experts from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) began arriving yesterday to look at the current leptospirosis epidemic that is affecting hundreds of people and threatening thousands more. So far, 29 deaths and a total of nearly 300 cases have been reported. The specialists will reinforce local doctors who are tackling the epidemic. The experts will work in Santo Domingo, the National District and Barahona, the areas with the highest incidence of the disease. According to Dr Bautista Rojas Gomez, the Minister of Public Health, the rate has slowed a bit compared to a few days ago. He said, "The situation is controlled, because it is nothing like it was last Thursday or Friday." He pointed out that more cases could still appear, since there is an incubation period before the symptoms show up. Disease control experts have warned that the unsanitary conditions created by the flooding that was caused by Tropical Storm Noel could well bring about marked increases in other diseases such as dengue or malaria. El Caribe says that last year there were 846 cases, but this year so far, there have been 1,200 cases of leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is endemic within the animal population, especially rodents, and can only be transmitted through contact with either fecal material or urine. Open cuts or sores that come into contact with contaminated objects, ingestion of contaminated food or a lack of personal hygiene are the main causes of contracting the disease.

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